Keith Wherry, North Carolina.

Still, we consider this a good opportunity to hunt big whitetails, and this hunt consistently yields a higher success rate and bigger bucks than the average hunt in Saskatchewan or Alberta.

His leases are in Units 1-5, where the whitetail deer population is not large but where deer are concentrated in riverbottoms, along creeks, in Conservation Reserve Program areas and small woodlots.

The bow hunt occurs during the rut in November, when bucks are usually concentrated in wooded riverbottoms. The rifle season begins on the closest Wednesday to Dec. 1 and runs for 12 days. Some bucks are still chasing does during the rifle season, but hunting is more difficult then. Often the bigger animals live in small thickets or cattail patches.

You must apply for and draw a deer tag in an annual computer drawing. The state issues preference points to unsuccessful applicants.

You'll stay in a motel and eat restaurant meals at your own expense. In some cases a lease you'll be hunting might hold a ranch house, bunkhouse or cabin that is available for rent during the hunting season.

Unlike some of our whitetail hunts in Montana or Wyoming, you won't see dozens of bucks on this hunt. But if you're willing to be patient, this hunt offers a chance at a once-in-a-lifetime trophy. I've hunted with this outfitter and have sent him hunters since about 2003. -- Rich LaRocco.

The outfitter also offers spring turkey hunts, pheasant and bobwhite hunting, and mule deer muzzleloader hunts.